Adrian – We need to be more clinical

Adrian’s joy at a second successive clean sheet was tempered by his side’s failure to take all three Barclays Premier League points against Stoke City and so the West Ham United stopper urged his teammates to be more clinical in front of goal. 

The Spaniard felt the Hammers created more than enough opportunities to win Saturday’s game at the Boleyn Ground, but were still indebted to the 28-year-old for two excellent stops from substitute Mame Biram Diouf.  

Still, Adrian insists the Hammers are doing all the right things and he insists the winning feeling will return so long as they continue to keep it tight at the back. 

“We have to be happy with the clean sheet, but I think a little bit frustrated that we didn't get the three points, because we had plenty of chances to score,” he told West Ham TV. 

“[Jack] Butland also made some very good saves and, at the end of the day, we got one more point and another clean sheet is important as well. 

“I do my job, I always try to help my team by making saves and this time we got a point with those saves. The two saves [from Diouf] were with my right foot, I think I saved more with my right foot than with my hands. I'm the 'keeper and I need to save with all parts of the body!

“The team defended well, not just me, all the team defended well and I think if we keep a clean sheet we have a chance to win the next game.   

“If we keep showing the same performance, continue to keep clean sheets and if we are more clinical in attack, I think we can get the three points there [at Swansea City].” 

Saturday's story was not dissimilar to that of the Hammers’ goalless draw at Old Trafford a week earlier, where the Hammers were also left wondering what might have been.     

He continued: “In both games we showed a great performance, we played well, we made good chances, we had opportunities to win the game but I think we need to be a little bit more clinical with our finishing. 

“We showed good team spirit. We have five or six injuries and it's hard at this time, because we have many games coming over the Christmas period. I think we have a good squad now and the players that have the chance now, like Antonio, need to continue to play well.”  

With the season’s halfway mark now just three games away, what does Adrian make of the Hammers’ long-term prospects?  

“If we pass the Christmas period and start to get the injured players back into the team in January and February, and we are still in the same position, we can look to stay in the top six, or seven. We play to win and I think we deserve to be in the position that we are. 

“The points and the table is so narrow, you win two games and you go up, you lose two games and you're in the middle. We need to go game by game and nothing further. I think if we keep this same level of performance and improve results here in Upton Park, we can have a great season.”